Sequential signal producing means

ABSTRACT

The means has a housing with a cover and mating two portion back wall, with one portion mounting a light and a plurality of photoelectric cells, each in a distinct position around the light, with a dial member rotatably and slidably mounted to the housing, extending between the light and photo-electric cells to block the passage of light therebetween except through a single port in the dial member which is rotatable to each distinct portion and slidable into and out of alignment with the light and a respective cell to product a sequential signal, and with the other portion mounting a light centrally located in a reflector member to direct the light rays to each of a plurality of photoelectric cells, with a patterned card being insertable between the reflector member and cells to pass light, only to preselected cells to produce the sequential signal, with such signal from either portion being sent to a means discriminately receiving a sequential signal. Mating ratchet teeth may be provided on the housing and dial member to insure the positioning of the port in a distinct position, to prevent rotation in the aligned position, and to cam the dial to the non-aligned position upon attempted rotation in the aligned position. Each portion of the back wall may be mounted to a separate cover to provide only the combination portion or card portion of the means.

United States Patent Gartner v p 1541 SEQUENTIAL SIGNAL PRODUCING MEANS [72] Inventor: Klaus W. Gartner, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif.

[.73] Assignee: Peter Phillips, Gardena, Calif. a

part interest [22] Filed: Feb. 19, 1971 [21] AppL No; 116,909

[52] US. Cl. ..70/278, 70/DIG. 51, 200/4,

[51] Int. Cl. ..E05b 47/00 [58] Field of Search..70/277, 278, DIG. 51; 317/134; 340/147, 149; 200/4; 250/229,.219 DD Rivers ..340/ 149 Primary Examiner-Albert G. Craig, Jr. Att0rneyMiketta, Glenny, Poms & Smith [451 Nov. 7, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT f,

.The means has a housing with a cover and mating two 7 portion back wall, with one portion mounting a light and a plurality of photo-electric cells, each in a distinct position around the light, with a dial member rotatably and slidably mounted to the housing, extending between the light and photo-electric cells to block the passage of light therebetween except through a single port in the dial member which is rotatable to each distinct portion and slidable into and out of alignment with the light and a respective cell to product a sequential signal, and with the other portion mounting a light centrally located in a reflector member to direct the light rays to each of a plurality of photo-electric cells, with a patterned card being insertable between the reflector member and cells to sequential signal, with such signal from either portion being sent to a means discriminately receiving a sequential signal. Mating ratchet teeth may be provided on the housing and dial member to insure the positioning of the port in a distinct position, to prevent rotation in the aligned position, and to cam the dial to the non-aligned position upon attempted rotation in the aligned position. Each portion of the back wall may be mounted to a separate cover to provide. only the combination portion or card portion of the means.

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. l l SEQUENTIAL SIGNAL PRODUCING MEANS I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There has longbeen a need for an easily operated actuator for. controlling electrically operated locks used with'safes, doors, and the like. An example of such a need would be in high security office buildings, wherein the doors to high security areas are kept locked by elec- I trical sequential signal controlled locks, except when the doors are opened to permit passage of personnel, and then upon closing, the doors are relockecl. The personnel who have access to these high security areas, will pass through these door's many times a day-and each time must unlock the door; To ease the burden of unlocking such doors, key or card actuators are used, but-these actuators are not particularly secure as the key or card can be forcibly or otherwise taken from an authorized person. f I I A combination actuator is not subject to such a theft,

for the key is kept in the mind of the authorized personnel. However, the heretofore'used mechanical combination actuators have been subject to being picked by feeling the tumblers drop, hearing the tumblers drop or by disassembling the lock to observe the wear pattern or tumbler opening locations. A combination actuator for use in a high security area should not be able to be picked by any of the above techniques.

' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is therefore the primary object of this invention to disclose and provide anovel actuator imeans for producing a sequential electronic signal which can not be picked by heretofore known method s, which cannot be discovered by merely disassembling the lock and which can be operated only on a preselected number Other and additional objects of this invention are to provide such a means which can be opened by combination but which gives no indication of what the combination is, and which will, upon being manipulated to other than the proper combinatiomprovide a warning that the means is been tampered with, to provide such a means which can be operated by a patterned member such as a card, to provide such a meanswhich can be completely removed and yet will not indicate the com bination or produce the sequential signal, to provide such a means which is economical to produce, easy to install, easy to operate and virtually impossible foran unauthorized person to open. I

Generally the means for generating a preselected sequential signal to be sentto a means for discriminately receiving a sequential signal includes a. manually movable actuator control means for movement between distinctive positions and for association with a housing having sensing means mounted thereto for sensing respective distinct positions of the actuator moving in one mode between distinct positions and in the other mode between a non-aligned position outof may include meansfor sensing the presence of a properly patterned member and for producing the preselected sequential signal in response thereto.

The housing may include a cover and a two portion back wall. The sensing means may include a source of energy, such as a light, and receivers of energy, such as photoelectric cells, with the actuator control means including a dialmember witha single energy path such as a port therethrough. A guide means may be provided to insure the location of the control means in one of the distinct positions, to prevent movement of the control means in the aligned position in the one mode, and to cammingly move the control means to the non-aligned position upon attempted movement thereof in the one mode in the aligned position. Biasing means may be provided for biasing the control means to the nonaligned position. Illuminating means may be provided for illuminating the indicia on the control means. Switch means may be provided for energizing the sensing means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the sequential signal producing means, according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary back elevational view of the meansofFIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a side-cross sectional view taken along the plane III-III of FIG. 1, showing the internal construction of the means, with the dial member thereof located in the non-aligned position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the plane IV-IV of FIG. 3, showing the light, the photo-electric cells, and the cylindrical wall of the, dial member with a single port therethrough.

. FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a por- FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the reflector member of the patterned member sensing means, with the back wall and ledge thereof shown in phantom lines. 7

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 1,

but showing an alternative embodiment ;of the means v having the combination portion only; and

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 1,'

but showing another alternative embodiment of the control means when in such a respective distinct position and aligned with the sensing means, with a mounting means mounting the actuator control means to the housing in association with the sensing means for means having the patterned memberportion only.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the means according to this invention for generating a preselected sequential signal to be sent'to As seen in FIG. 3, the means 10 may be mounted to .a

frame 1 l on a wall or other. flat surface 12. The means 10 is for electrical connection to a means for discriminately receiving a sequential signal, preferably in accordance with the teachings such as is illustrated in Swannick U.S. Pat. No. 3,411,046, entitled Electronic Combination LockSystem, and Curry U.S. Pat. No. 2,562,176, entitled Electrical Selective Control Apparatus. The means for discriminately receiving a sequential signal, upon receipt of such a signal will perfom a desired function such as unlock a door, turn on a machine, etc.

Generally, the means 10 according to this invention includes a hollow housing 15 with aback wall 16 and a mating cover 17, a combination portion 29 with a sensing means 30'including a source 31, a plurality of receivers 40, an actuator control means 50 for movement between distinct positions, with the sensing 'means 30 sensing respective distinct positions of the control means 50 when the control means 50 is aligned with the sensing means 30, andmounting means 60 for mounting the control means 50 to the housing 15 for movement in at least two modes, with the control means 50 moving in one mode between distinct positions, and in the other mode between an aligned position, aligned with the sensing means 30, and a nonaligned position, out of alignment with the sensing means 30. A

The means may include guide means 65 for insuring that the control means 50 is in one of the distinct positions when in the aligned position, for blocking movement in the one mode when in the aligned position and for cammingly moving the control means 50in the other mode when movement is attempted in'the one mode in the aligned position. The means 10 may also include biasing means 70 for biasing the control means to the non-aligned position, illuminating means 75 for illuminating indicia 55 on the control means 50, energizing means'80 for energizing the source 31 of the sensing means 30.

A patterned member portion 84 may be provided in the housing of a patterned member presence sensing means 85 including a source 87, a plurality of receivers 91 and a card receiving space 95 therebetween for sensing the presence of a properly patterned member (not shown) to generate thesignal.

The hollow housing 15 for mounting the sensing means 30 and the actuator control. means 50 in association with each other, is best seen in FIGS. 1, 2'and 3.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the hollow housing 15 has a back wall 16 made up of an upper portion 17 and a lower portion 18.- Each portion 17 and 18 have, as seen in FIG. 3, a mating notch 19 alongthe adjacent edges thereof to permit the joining of these two portionsNIhe open-backed cover 20 has a front wall 21 and integral therewith four sloping sidewalls 22, which together form a rearwardly opening cavity closed by the upper and lower portions 17 and 18 of the back wall 16, when seated on shoulders 23, formed in the sidewalls 22 adjacent the rear edge thereof.

Attaching means 25 is provided for attaching the two portions 17 and 18 of the backwall 16 10 the cover 20.

In the preferred embodiment, the attaching means 25 includes countersunk holes 26in the upper and lower portions 17 and 1s, and tappedholes 27 in the sloping sidewalls '22, opening to the shoulders 23 with the flat Allen-head screws 28 extending therethrough to secure the backwall 16'to thecover 20 to form the hollow housing 15.

The combination portion 29 of the means 10 includes the sensing means 30, control means 50, mountingmeans 60, guide means 65,biasi ng means 70, illuminating means 75, and energizing means 80 which will now be described in detail.

The sensing means 30 for sensing" a respective distinct position of the actuator control means 50 when the actuator control means 50 is insuch a respective distinct position and aligned with the sensing means 30, includes a source 31. of energy for being operatively joined to'a respective receiver 40 of energy by the actuator control means 50. s l

; As best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the source 31 of the preferred embodiment includes a central light 32 mounted in the centrally located cavity of a boss 33 in the upper portion 17 to protrude forwardly therefrom, A cover 34 is located over the central light 32, and frictionally secured to the boss 33. The cover 34 is provided with aplurality of circumferential equally spaced holes 35 therethrough, one for each of the, distinct positions of the control means 50., The source ,31 is I completed by the provision of wires 36 extending from the central light 32.

The sensing means 30 also includes a plurality of receivers 40, which in the preferred embodiment are photo-electric cells 41. The upper portion 17 of the back wall 16 has around the boss 33, a cylindrical wall 42 which has a plurality of radial holes '43 into each of which a photo-electric cell 41 is mounted, with the wires 44 from the photo-electric cell extending outwardly. The holes 43 are circumferentially equally spaced and equal in number to the number-of holes 35 so that when the holes 35 and 43 are radially aligned, the light rays from the central light 32 may pass through each of the holes 35 to be received by the photo-electric cell in the hole 43 aligned therewith. The passage of these light rays will be regulated by-the actuator control means 50.

The actuator control means 50 in association with the sensing means 30 is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. In the preferred embodiment, the actuator control means 50 includes a dial member 51 having a cylindrical lower wall 53 sized for location between the cylindrical wall 42 and the centrally located boss 33 with the cover 40 thereon. The cylindrical wall 53 has-a single'port 52 face of the skirt 54, forwardly along the axis of the cylindrical wall 53 is an axle 56 on the outer end of which a knob 57 is received and secured thereto by a screw58." I

The means 60 for movably mounting the actuator" control means 50 to the housing 15 in association with the sensing means 30 for movementin at least two modes, includes an aperture 61 in the front wall 21 of t h ew housing 15- h ape tur 6.1 is si ed .se ,te e y and t e ly m unt a o nd heexl 6.

0 t e h h ua ylt teted t e pr s le ted dis inct pos iomwhi e n the-nen-aligned l eit n. ,by

b rv the n iei 5 n the sk t 5! here f and 1 n r b n l d r m enon-a g ed p shi n' a shownin FIG. 3 to the aligned position as shown in FIG. 5, wherein theport 54 is located between the respective h e .5 andt e'r p ti e h le 43, tha light y m yv P e t e nt al i h 32 hrou h the respective hole 35,jthrough the-port 52', to be Plane of h h le 43 a 9f ember 5! in he el SPFF mitten and pon httemptet tete ien, thereof in the hes peeitiehv the el hant!- fe ee e et teeth w 9 a. retehet teeth 6 1min the al ned ee iti h e he eee etnei eeiti h. The h sh d th ehsfi nt ehte tete i h e th be el i the, inwardly l gned 'Pl' SiIiQQ she attt the di member 9 even h te et eh t9 the heh-ieihshed eei Ihe p ef rree emb diment 9 the-m ans 10- is als Provid d hheths'meehe 79 biasin h ht l hteehe 50 tethe ne -ehsh e veeitieh- Ashe t see i FIGS 3 and 5? th i s 8 heehe 70 ne tidee a terwete y ehlett litl Pin 1 eh .eevet end a reatwe se pin eevity zph t e she 6. i h a ear hs" vhis eti e' t d sea ed n the'pih T1 an the f her nd e ed n the fetwet em 9? the ee ity IE-Th s an -hieeee the d e! member .1 fewets li' that, the e received byfthe respective photoeelectric cell which generates a signal in response thereto. Then, the dial member 51 is re'tjurned' 'fromthe aligned position," s shownin FIG. 5; to the non-aligned position, as in FIG. 3,'for being rotated to another preselected po'sithen .e the p ih Bhnetbeevereeifitp the eth iel m mberfrhrn th hen-a erted P sit on to the ehzh pesi e an upen r lease th eie fme be 51 in th el shet Peeit eh th ea ths 7 will etttttt h "diet m mbetet t f theh n ehsheh besitieh- I tion and again for'b t gmQYed h-the lighed pes t eh.

foractuating another photo-electric ceuni. These movements are repeated asmany times as may be necessary to produce the preselected sequential signal.

. Guide means 65 is provided in the preferred embodiment for moving the dial member 51 to the closest distinct position upon movement thereof to aligned position, for preventing rotationof the dial member 51 when in the aligned position, for cammingly moving the dial member 51 from the aligned position to the non-aligned position upon attempted rotation of the dial member 50in the aligned position;

As best seen in FIGS. 3, 5 and 7, the guide means 65, of the preferred embodiment include ratchet teeth .66 cut in the front wall 21 around the aperture .61 and mating ratchet teeth 67 cut in the inner face of knob 57. It is contemplated. that fa like member of ratchet teeth 66 and 67 will be provided, with this number equal to the number of distinct positions of the sensing and control means and 50 to provide positive alignment of the port 52 of the dial member 51 between the holes and 43 of the source 31 and receiver til while at the same time, not causing a wear pattern on the The m ans 19 i the w rree' mh stinem is l Ptevieee, win uenhahs m eh 15 te ihhmih tih th theieia en th el tle mihe hs ee e th pee ed ne tee me ely ret hdihs' li ht hiehh ee'ih he erwetehe ns hhtt et eei' aee'et theeyhnshiee! wel A? g th e eel t dih heteef Ahele 77 ep id dh t e upp si ewa 22 n eh e e tre e eteht ihd 7 1 that he sh ay m h l t .6 Pet throu the h t 54 o the dia member te eht ih h l he e 5 e ehlihs t re he sees ihtQlShW'PlOW 78- h new 9 el h h ee ehel 's zihs' mean 8. for ehetg zin th e f en r y o th he s m n 3 and fe nerg zing the l h 9 he ill e means. As bestseien in FIGS. 1 and 3, the energizing me n 0 ineh d we he e tn htheh ek e 6 at he j n tu of t tim end lew r tie l' and 8 through which eiectnfcal wires, snch aswir es 36 and ,44 xt One s th li h hee e s e hhe te to e sw t h .8 m t nted n'it le er sloping s d a l 2 of t e h usi 5- Ah thet ew t h .8 i els e t di t the l w op n ie etewell .2 tretie a ihs e ea of e h de i to mneuh e he nteeeh e fe e e hy e e in h ew teh l, t sen ing m eh a the teeth 66 and 67, which would indicate these selected distinct positions. The guide means is completed ,by the provision of a skirt 68 on the knob 57 which extends into an annular groove 69 around the aperture 61 to hide the ratchet teeth 66 67 and thereby prevent dirt or other contaminants fromiodging therebetween.

As best seen by comparing FIGSQI! and 5, upon movement of the dial member 51 from the non-aligned position to the aligned position, the ratchet teeth 67 will move rearwardly with the knob .57 into engagemerit with the ratchet teeth 66, to rotate the dial member 51, if required, slightly, until the ratchet teeth mate, as shown as in FIG. 6. This slight rotational distinct position. The mating of the ratchet vteeth ,66 and 67, as seen-in FIG. 6, Prevents rotation of the dial movement will move the dial member 5 1 to the closest umi a me n 5 e tur h t permit h e e h ef th die me b r 1' to the nteeel et distinct positions and the sliding of the dial inember 51 to the aligned positions to generate the sequential signal for transmission to a means for discriminatingly lte e ing qu nt e eishe I The preferred embodiment of the means also i nde th pro i e a pat ern he ih n tie 8! wi h a pa terned m mbe Presen .seheittgitn an 'hi Th P tt rn member ine h wn) e el he an t p Of a .Pettethm be hea d h heeh'ee e tee es nthu atien o e ptepetly .pat emedn inhe whie u d b easily used for actuating the patterned member sensing theehe- T a d t o e h pe te hee .themhe p tion to the combination portion 2 9 of the means 1 0 brings with it all of the problems associated with such a Pe t h membe Pett ee lt eh L th QP etb h 'v e theft of the pattern member, etc. l lowever, ,by provid- 89 is mounted to the lower portion 18 ing an actuator 10 which has both the combination portion 29 and the patterned member portion 84, the possession of the card which opens the means 10, may be restricted to a limited number of persons, who pass into and out of the restricted or securearea'frequently so that the speed and convenience card entry is worth the risks. All other persons who are permitted to enter the area, would use the combination portion 29, thereby keeping the possibility of theft of the card to a minimum. I I

As-best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the sensing means85 includes a slot 86 in the lower portion of a front wall 21 suitable for the passage of a properly patterned card to the interior of the housing 15. The member presence sensing means 85 includes'a source 87 of energy which in the preferred embodiment is a light 88 mounted in a reflector member 89 having reflective surfaces 90 f .whichreflect the lightrays from the light87, in a multiplicity of distinct vertical paths. The reflector member of the back wall l6 be'low theilocation of the slot 86. I As bestseen in FIGS. 3 and 7, the receiver 91 of the sensing means 85 for receiving energy from the source '87 includes a plurality of photo-electric cells 92 mounted in holes 93 in a forwardly protruding ledge 94 of the lowerportion 18 of the back wall 16. A card receiving space 95 separates the receiver 91 from the either'be operated by rotating of the dial member 51 to preselected distinct positions and sliding the dial member 51 'to the aligned position in the proper combination of steps or can be operated by the insertion of a properly patterned card. In either event, some or all of the photoelectric cells, not in the preselected positions, .could be attached toan alarm system, so that anyone not knowing thecombinationor not having the proper card, will sound an alarm. This will help prevent random discovery of the patter required to operate the means 10.

Another advantage of the construction accordingto this invention, is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. If extreme security requirements dictate the provision of the means 10 with only the combination portion 29, a cover 20 is provided which mounts only the upper portion 17 of the back wall 16 utilizing the sensing means 30, actuator control means 50, mounting means 60, guide means 65, biasing means 70, illuminating means 75, and energizing means 80 without any changes in the construction of these means.

Likewise, the means 10 may be provided only with the member presence sensing means 85 only. In such a construction, the lower portion 18 of the back wall 16 is combined with a cover 20 of a slightly smallersize and which has a slot 86 in the front wall 21 thereof with the energizing means 80, the source 87, and the receivers- 91 all being of identical construction to that used in the combined means 10;

In the preferred'embodiment, the sensing means 30 include a light32- and photo-electric cells 41 with the dial member 51 of the control means 50 selectively passing light rays therebetween to generate the preselectedsequential signal. It is certainly within the contemplation of this invention to use other types of sensing means 30 and control means 50 such as, for example, mechanical elements or electrical switches closed or opened by" the two mode suitable control means 30.

Thus, the means 10 according to thisinvention meets all of the objects of this invention to provide a preselected sequential signal to'be sent to a means for discriminately receiving this signal.

I claim: V v I V 1. In a means for generating a preselected sequential signal to be sent to a means for discriminately receiving a. sequential signal, said mechanism including a manually movable actuatorcontrol means for move- 'ment between distinctpositions and for association with a housinghaving asensing means mounted thereto for sensing a'respective distinctlposition of the actuator control mea'ns'when the actuator control means is in such a respective distinct position and aligned with the sensing means, the improvement comprising:

means for movably mounting the actuator'control means to the housing inassociation with the sensing means for movement in'at least, two modes, the actuator control means moving in one mode between distinct positions, and in the other mode between an aligned position, aligned with the sensing means, and a non-aligned position, out of alignment with the sensing means, said actuator control means being movable in the one mode toa preselected distinct position while in the nonaligned-position and then being movable-in the other mode from the non-aligned position to the aligned position for actuating the'sensing means, said actuator control means then being movable in the other mode, back to the non-aligned position and being movable in the one mode to another preselected position for actuating the sensing means again, these movements being repeated as many times as necessary, to produce I the preselected sequential signal. I

2. The means as in claim 1 additionally comprising: I

means mounted in the housing for sensing the presence of a properly patterned member and for producing the preselected sequential signal in response to the presence of the properly patterned member.

3. The means as in claim 1 wherein the housing includes a back wall mounting the sensing means and a mating open-backed cover for mounting the actuating means. L

4. The means as in claim 3 wherein the back wall is v divided into a first and second portion for mating with I the cover and with each other to close the open backedcover, said firstback wall portion mounting the sensing means and saidsecond back wall portion mounting a means for sensing the presence 'of a properly patterned operations of a position of the ac- 7. The means as in claim 1 wherein the source is r a plurality of receivers mounted in the-housing; a reflector mounted in the housing for reflecting energy from the source to the receivers along individual paths, said patterned member interrupting these paths in a preselected pattern to produce the 18. In a means for generating a preselected sequentialsignal to be .sent to a'means for discriminately light, each receiver is a photo-electric cell and the ac- 10 tuator control means includes a wall between the light and the cell, said wall having a port therethrough which is aligned between a respective light and cell when the actuator control means is in the respective distinct position and aligned with the sensing means. I

8. The means as in clairn 7 wherein a single light is provided, wherein thewalliscylindrical about said single light, and wherein a photo-electric cell'is provided for each distinct position to receive light from the single source when the port the wall is aligned l herebetween.

9. The means asin clairn8 wherein the actuator controlmeans includes a dial member with the extendmounts the dial member for rotative movement in the one mode and foraxial' movement in the other mode.

10. The means as in claim 1 additionally comprising guide means for guiding the movement of the actuator control means in the'one modeto the closest distinct means is additionally 'adoptedfor' movingthe control means in the other mode to the non-aligned position, upon attempted movement of the control means in the one mode while in the aligned position. V 7

13. The means as in claim 10 wherein the blocking means includes mating ratchet teeth on the housing and on the actuator control means, the number of said matingratchet teeth equally the member of the distinct positions. s 1

14. The means as in claim 1 wherein themounting means mounts the actuator control means to the housing for rotative movement in the one mode and for axial movement in the other mode.

15. The means asin claim 14 wherein the actuator control means includes a dial member having indicia associated therewith indicating the distinct positions and-wherein illuminating means is additionally provided for illuminating the indicia. 4

' 16. The means as in'claim 15 wherein the mounting ing therefrom, and-where'in the mounting means 1 means includes an aperture in the housing, surrounded by an annular groove, the dial member includes a protruding axle for extension through the aperture in the wall and a knob on the end of the axle to provide for rotating and sliding movement of thedial member relative the housing.

17. The means as in claim 2 wherein the means for sensing the presence of a properly patterned member includes: t

a source of energy mounted in the housing;

receiving a sequential signal, said mechanism including a housing, a dial control member associated with the housing, and a sensing means mounted'to the'housing for association withthedial control member and for sensing when the :dial control member is aligned therewith to generate a signal, the improvement comprising: s

means mounting the dial control member'for rotation in a plane between a plurality of distinct positions and for, movement normal to (said plane between "an aligned position, aligned with the sensing means, and a non-alignedpos'it'ion out of alignment with said sensing means, saiddial control means being rotatable to a preselected distinct position while in the. non-aligned position and movable to the aligned position to actuate the sensing means, these movements being repeated to produce the preselected signal. 19. A means forgenerating' a preselected sequential signal to be sent to a means for discriminatelyreceiving asequential signal, comprising:

a hollow housing for mounting on a wall or other structure, said housing having a back wall and an open-backed cover for matingly receiving said back wall, said back wall being secured, to said cover to form said housing,

a source of energy mounted to the back wall,

switch means mounted to the housing and operatively connected to the source of energy for energizing the source inresponse tooperation of the switch means, l

a plurality of receivers of energy mounted to the back wall, each of said receivers being located in a distinct position for receiving energy from the sourceand for producing a signal in response to the receipt of energy, 1

.a dial member for locationbetween the source and each receiver, said dial having a unitary energy path for operatively connecting the source to a respective receiver when the path is located in the respective distinct position and is operatively aligned between the source and the respective receiver, said dial member having indicia for indicating each of the distinct positions, means mounting the dial member to the housing between the source and the receivers for rotational movement of the dial member and therefore the path thereof, in a plane between the distinct positions and for sliding movement between an aligned position where the path is aligned between the housing for biasing the dial member to the nonaligned position,

guide means on dial member "and on the housing for guiding the dial member to the closest distinct j illuminating means on the housing and energized by the switch means for illuminating the respective indicia corresponding to the distinct position of the dial member,

said switch means being manually operated to energize the source and the illuminating means,

said dial member being manually rotated to a preselected distinct position, and being manually slid to the aligned position against the biasing of the biasing means, to align the path between the source and the respective receiver to produce a signal whereupon the biasing means slides the dial member back to the non-aligned position and so on until the preselected sequential signal has been produced.

20. The means as in claim l9.wherein the back wall I includes two portions matingly joined to form the back wall, once! said portions mounting the source and receivers, and wherein the cover has an opening therethrough for receiving a properly patterned member, and additionally comprising:

a second source of energy mounted on the other of said portions and energized by the switch means;

a second plurality of receivers mounted on the other of said portions, each of said receivers being located in an individual position for receiving energy from the source and for producing a signal in response to the receipt of energy; v

a reflector member over said second source for reflecting energy from the second source to the receivers;

means mounting the receivers and the reflector to the back wall for receiving the properly patterned member between the reflector memberand the receivers when inserted in the opening, said properlypattemed member passing energy from said source to preselected receivers to produce the sequential signal independently of the dial member. 

1. In a means for generating a preselected sequential signal to be sent to a means for discriminately receiving a sequential signal, said mechanism including a manually movable actuator control means for movement between distinct positions and for association with a housing having a sensing means mounted thereto for sensing a respective distinct position of the actuator control means when the actuator control means is in such a respective distinct position and aligned with the sensing means, the improvement comprising: means for movably mounting the actuator control means to the housing in association with the sensing means for movement in at least two modes, the actuator control means moving in one mode between distinct positions, and in the other mode between an aligned position, aligned with the sensing means, and a nonaligned position, out of alignment with the sensing means, said actuator control means being movable in the one mode to a preselected distinct position while in the non-aligned position and then being movable in the other mode from the non-aligned position to the aligned position for actuating the sensing means, said actuator control means then being movable in the other mode, back to the non-aligned position and being movable in the one mode to another preselected position for actuating the sensing means again, these movements being repeated as many times as necessary, to produce the preselected sequential signal.
 2. The means as in claim 1 additionally comprising: means mounted in the housing for sensing the presence of a properly patterned member and for producing the preselected sequential signal in response to the presence of the properly patterned member.
 3. The means as in claim 1 wherein the housing includes a back wall mounting the sensing means and a mating open-backed cover for mounting the actuating means.
 4. The means as in claim 3 wherein the back wall is divided into a first and second portion for mating with the cover and with each other to close the open backed cover, said first back wall portion mounting the sensing means and said second back wall portion mounting a means for sensIng the presence of a properly patterned member.
 5. The means of claim 4 wherein the back wall portions are matingly notched along the adjoining edges.
 6. The means as in claim 1 wherein the sensing means includes: a receiver of energy for each distinct position of the actuating means, a source of energy at each distinct position of the actuating means, said source and said receiver for each respective distinct position being operatively joined by the alignment of the actuator control means therewith, when in said respective distinct position.
 7. The means as in claim 1 wherein the source is light, each receiver is a photo-electric cell and the actuator control means includes a wall between the light and the cell, said wall having a port therethrough which is aligned between a respective light and cell when the actuator control means is in the respective distinct position and aligned with the sensing means.
 8. The means as in claim 7 wherein a single light is provided, wherein the wall is cylindrical about said single light, and wherein a photo-electric cell is provided for each distinct position to receive light from the single source when the port in the wall is aligned therebetween.
 9. The means as in claim 8 wherein the actuator control means includes a dial member with the wall extending therefrom, and wherein the mounting means mounts the dial member for rotative movement in the one mode and for axial movement in the other mode.
 10. The means as in claim 1 additionally comprising guide means for guiding the movement of the actuator control means in the one mode to the closest distinct position, while being moved in the other mode to the aligned position, to insure that the control means is in one of the distinct positions when in the aligned position.
 11. The means as in claim 10 wherein the guide means is additionally adopted for preventing movement of the control means in the one mode while in the aligned position.
 12. The means as in claim 10 wherein the guide means is additionally adopted for moving the control means in the other mode to the non-aligned position, upon attempted movement of the control means in the one mode while in the aligned position.
 13. The means as in claim 10 wherein the blocking means includes mating ratchet teeth on the housing and on the actuator control means, the number of said mating ratchet teeth equally the member of the distinct positions.
 14. The means as in claim 1 wherein the mounting means mounts the actuator control means to the housing for rotative movement in the one mode and for axial movement in the other mode.
 15. The means as in claim 14 wherein the actuator control means includes a dial member having indicia associated therewith indicating the distinct positions and wherein illuminating means is additionally provided for illuminating the indicia.
 16. The means as in claim 15 wherein the mounting means includes an aperture in the housing, surrounded by an annular groove, the dial member includes a protruding axle for extension through the aperture in the wall and a knob on the end of the axle to provide for rotating and sliding movement of the dial member relative the housing.
 17. The means as in claim 2 wherein the means for sensing the presence of a properly patterned member includes: a source of energy mounted in the housing; a plurality of receivers mounted in the housing; a reflector mounted in the housing for reflecting energy from the source to the receivers along individual paths, said patterned member interrupting these paths in a preselected pattern to produce the signal.
 18. In a means for generating a preselected sequential signal to be sent to a means for discriminately receiving a sequential signal, said mechanism including a housing, a dial control member associated with the housing, and a sensing means mounted to the housing for association with the dial control member and for sensing when the dial control member is aligned thereWith to generate a signal, the improvement comprising: means mounting the dial control member for rotation in a plane between a plurality of distinct positions and for movement normal to said plane between an aligned position, aligned with the sensing means, and a non-aligned position out of alignment with said sensing means, said dial control means being rotatable to a preselected distinct position while in the non-aligned position and movable to the aligned position to actuate the sensing means, these movements being repeated to produce the preselected signal.
 19. A means for generating a preselected sequential signal to be sent to a means for discriminately receiving a sequential signal, comprising: a hollow housing for mounting on a wall or other structure, said housing having a back wall and an open-backed cover for matingly receiving said back wall, said back wall being secured to said cover to form said housing, a source of energy mounted to the back wall, switch means mounted to the housing and operatively connected to the source of energy for energizing the source in response to operation of the switch means, a plurality of receivers of energy mounted to the back wall, each of said receivers being located in a distinct position for receiving energy from the source and for producing a signal in response to the receipt of energy, a dial member for location between the source and each receiver, said dial having a unitary energy path for operatively connecting the source to a respective receiver when the path is located in the respective distinct position and is operatively aligned between the source and the respective receiver, said dial member having indicia for indicating each of the distinct positions, means mounting the dial member to the housing between the source and the receivers for rotational movement of the dial member and therefore the path thereof, in a plane between the distinct positions and for sliding movement between an aligned position where the path is aligned between the source and the receivers, and a non-aligned position wherein the path is out of alignment between the source and the receivers, biasing means between the dial member and the housing for biasing the dial member to the non-aligned position, guide means on said dial member and on the housing for guiding the dial member to the closest distinct position as the dial is slid to the aligned position, for preventing rotation of the dial member between distinct positions when in the aligned position and for cammingly sliding the dial member to the non-aligned position upon attempted rotation of the dial member in the aligned position, and illuminating means on the housing and energized by the switch means for illuminating the respective indicia corresponding to the distinct position of the dial member, said switch means being manually operated to energize the source and the illuminating means, said dial member being manually rotated to a preselected distinct position, and being manually slid to the aligned position against the biasing of the biasing means, to align the path between the source and the respective receiver to produce a signal whereupon the biasing means slides the dial member back to the non-aligned position and so on until the preselected sequential signal has been produced.
 20. The means as in claim 19 wherein the back wall includes two portions matingly joined to form the back wall, one of said portions mounting the source and receivers, and wherein the cover has an opening therethrough for receiving a properly patterned member, and additionally comprising: a second source of energy mounted on the other of said portions and energized by the switch means; a second plurality of receivers mounted on the other of said portions, each of said receivers being located in an individual position for receiving energy from the source and for producing a signal in response to the receipt of energy; a reflectoR member over said second source for reflecting energy from the second source to the receivers; means mounting the receivers and the reflector to the back wall for receiving the properly patterned member between the reflector member and the receivers when inserted in the opening, said properly patterned member passing energy from said source to preselected receivers to produce the sequential signal independently of the dial member. 